PBS_ItsOKToBeSmart

Do Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Jules Verne, Philip K. Dick, Hugo Gernsback, Robert Heinlein, or Isaac Asimov hold a candle to H.G. Wells when it comes to correctly predicting the future of science via science fiction? And why does some science fiction do such a good job of predicting the future in the first place?

Science isn't always a visual medium, but I think it's most important moments have often been captured in photos and illustrations. I picked out some of my favorite science images from history.

Ever wonder what all those names on the periodic table actually mean? There's a whole lot of fascinating history on Mendeleev's table. Some carry names from antiquity, some are named for people, some are named for places, and some are named for mythical beings. Discover the etymology of the elements!

So maybe we can't outrun cheetahs or antelope, but humans are uniquely adapted for long distance running. What does science have to say about marathon running? To find out, (and because I was feeling a little crazy) I decided to run one! Here's what I discovered about the science of long distance running

If you traced your family tree back 185 million generations, you wouldn't be looking at a human, a primate, or even a mammal. You'd be looking at a fish. So where along that line does the first human show up? The answer may surprise you

The human hand, with its multi-talented thumb, might be man's greatest tool. But did you know we can trace that thumb, and the hand and arm it's connected to, all the way back to a 375 million-year-old fish named Tiktaalik? This week I sit down with paleontologist and geneticist Dr. Neil Shubin to learn what a fish, and a little blue hedgehog, can teach us about the evolution of thumbs

Some of the universe's biggest action is a result of its smallest stuff

SPOILERS: It doesn't end well.

They say mom's never far away, but I don't think this is what they had in mind. In this episode, learn about the mind-blowing connection you share with your mom. A little bit of you never leaves the other!

You know nothing.

Science is delicious.

The past is different from the future. Why?

A little bit of explanation for the cycle of carbon and oxygen

I am an absolute freak for cheese. Next to bread, it might be our oldest biotechnology! Here's some of the science about how it's made and where it comes from. Special thanks to Kara Chadbourne from Antonelli's Cheese in Austin, TX!!! She's a cheese genius

Part 1 of 3 in my series about why our bodies are shaped the way they are.

This is part 3 of 3 in my series about how our bodies evolved to look like they do.

As massive magnetic fusion reactors go, the sun is pretty awesome.

A summertime look at why we sweat, why we burn, and why our fingers wrinkle in the pool

For some forms of live, old-age is relative.

Sharks are WAY more important than you may realize.

I smell a science storm a-comin'!!

Springtime means the arrival of green grass, bright flowers, and buzzing bees. But for many of us, it’s also about sneezing, watery red eyes, and a runny nose, thanks to allergies. In this week’s video, you’ll learn why we get allergies, how our immune system turns against us to attack pollen and pets, and why allergies seem to be on the rise in developed nations.

If you played NES, you did it too. Did it work?

When it comes to science, is there a monster in us all?

How scientifically accurate is your favorite sci-fi space battle?